100 Years of Scouting. Celebrating the Adventure, Continuing the Journey.
Training

The Training Continuum

Updated: November 20, 2008 (Trainer's EDGE)

Updated: January 1, 2009 (The AFL-CIO is offering a Wood Badge Scholarship Program)

Updated: January 1, 2009 (The VFW is offering a Wood Badge Scholarship Program)

In Scouting, there are multiple ways to deliver training. Pamphlets are a means to inform you of general requirements. For Cub Scouting, Fast Start programs (on CD/DVD) provide the first step in the training process. Required Basic Leader Training is designed to be delivered at the Council, District, Unit or individual level. Generally, presentations to larger groups also provide the opportunity for all of the participants to interact, a process just as important as delivering the training materials. After completing Basic Leader Training, there is supplemental training opportunities available. All of these will be described below.

Fast Start Training

Fast Start training remains essentially unchanged. It continues to provide an immediate comfort level for new leaders and enables them to say, "I can do this!" Fast Start training is the first step for any new volunteer and is to be delivered immediately after a new leader registers and before he or she meets with any youth.

Basic Leader Training

The new Basic Leader Training is composed of two parts: New Leader Essentials, for all unit-level leaders, and New Leader Specific Training, based on the leader's unit-level position.

New Leader Essentials

New Leader Essentials is an introductory session that highlights the values, aims, history, funding, and methods of Scouting. It addresses how these aims and methods are reached in an age-appropriate style within Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Varsity Scouting, and Venturing. Videos, discussions, and hands-on reinforcement are presented during the 90-minute training session. Ideally, all unit-based volunteers (Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, and Venturing leaders) take this session at the same time, so they understand that they are all striving for the same results with the youth they serve. Each leader completes New Leader Essentials training only once.

New Leader Specific Training

Once a volunteer has a solid overview of the Boy Scouts of America's values-based program, they can then begin training for their specific Scouting position through Leader Specific Training. This training provides the specialized knowledge a new leader needs to assume a leadership role. Because each course is designed for a specific leadership position, the training time varies. Leader Specific Training has been developed for the following positions and their assistants:

  • Tiger Cub Den Leaders

  • Cub Scout Den Leaders (Wolf/Bear)

  • Webelos Den Leaders

  • Cubmasters
  • Pack Committee Members

  • Pack Training Coordinator

  • Scoutmasters

  • Troop Committee Members

  • Venturing Committee Members

  • Venturing Advisors

Basic Leader Training is designed for maximum flexibility. The sessions can be delivered over time; training on one or more evenings a week, or month, or in a one-day training event that incorporates all program areas. It is suitable for large or small groups and may be presented to leaders of one or more units each time. Each council and district may decide the appropriate delivery method, keeping in mind that the focus is to remove roadblocks and achieve 100 percent trained leaders.

Overview of each of the New Leader Specific Training Courses

For Tiger Cub Den Leaders, Cub Scout Den Leaders, Webelos Den Leaders, Cubmasters, Pack Committee members.

Training can be completed in one day or two or three evenings. The leader is considered trained when he or she has completed New Leader Essentials and the Leader Specific Training.

Boy Scout Leader Specific Training

For Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters.

The training is divided into four parts. The first three parts concentrate on troop operation and can be completed in one full day or three evenings. The final part, which focuses on outdoor skills, lasts approximately a day and a half, depending on the skill level of the new leader. The leader is considered trained when he or she has completed New Leader Essentials and the Leader Specific Training.

For Troop Committee Members.

Troop committee training consists of the Troop Committee Challenge, which can be completed in three hours. After its completion a troop committee member is considered trained. The leader is considered trained when he or she has completed New Leader Essentials, Leader Specific Training, and Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills.

Venturing Leader Specific Training

For Venturing Advisors, assistant Advisors, Crew Committee Members.

Training incorporates Venturing's current adult leader training. It can be completed in approximately one day, along with New Leader Essentials.

Wood Badge

Wood Badge will evolve to be the core leadership skills training course for the Boy Scouts of America The new Wood Badge course is less focused on outdoor skills, which are addressed in Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills and Powder Horn training, but will instead strengthen every volunteer's ability to work with and lead groups of youth and adults. Click HERE for more information.

Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (ITOLS)

Outdoor skills are critical to the success of the Scouting program. Waiting for a volunteer to attend a Wood Badge course to receive those skills is too long to wait. To address this issue, Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills is the required outdoor training for all Scoutmasters, assistant Scoutmasters, and Varsity Scout coaches. The skills taught are based on the Scouting skills found in The Boy Scout Handbook. The course is also ideal for Venturing leaders since it focuses on skills that build confidence and competence in leaders conducting outdoor camping experiences.

The course is a day and a half long, but a leader can move at an accelerated pace by showing that they have mastered a specific skill. The emphasis is on the skill, rather than on attending the course. To be considered trained, these leaders must complete the Leader Specific Training and this new course.

Supplemental Training

Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO)

This training is to support the new Cub Scout Leader who has minimal camping experience but wants to plan and carry out an entry-level outdoor experience for the pack. This training is required if the pack wishes to participate in outdoor activities.

Outdoor Webelos Leader Training (OWL)

This training course is required for Webelos Leaders that wish to take their Webelos Den overnight camping. Completion of BALOO does not replace this training. This training is not required for Webelos Leaders to complete basic training but is required for their training award.

Youth Protection Training

This 75 minute training course is "must-have" for all leaders. It is not taught as a part of basic leader training. It is offered throughout the year both on a District and Council level. Your District Training Chair can help arrange for a special "in-house" course for your unit.

Cub Scout Leader Pow Wow

A training extravaganza of knowledge and skills to help you become a more effective leader. An exciting day-long carnival of action, activities, and program ideas.

University of Scouting

A day long event full of training courses and other supplemental training for all leaders.

Den Chief Training

An all day training event for Boy Scouts who have been selected by the Senior Patrol Leader and Scoutmaster or Varsity Scout Coach and approved by the Cubmaster and pack committee for recommendation to the den leader. The Den Chief helps the Den Leader with Den meetings.

Unit Leader Roundtables

Roundtables are held monthly for the purpose of giving adult leaders the skills and ideas they need to deliver an exciting Scout program to their Scouts.

National Youth Leadership Training

A week long (or 2 weekends) experience for Boy Scouts featuring Scoutcraft and leadership skills.

Trainer's EDGE (Replaces Trainer Development Conference)

Leadership training is a major part of Scouting, and this new training session (posted: November 20, 2008) will teach trainers how to conduct an effective training session. The course will include an opportunity to prepare and conduct presentations and demonstrate skills. Each participant should prepare a 10 minute presentation on a Scouting topic of their choice.

Commissioner Basic Training

A training program for unit commissioners. It is offered in-council as well as at the annual College of Commissioner's Science training event.

District Committee Training

This workshop is an official training program of the BSA. It will help district committee members meet the overall needs of their District, functions of district operations, responsibilities of each committee & overall importance. It is directly related to all individuals currently or prospectively a member of the district committee fulfilling any one or multiple roles.